Break out your pens and papers, folks, skinema is going academic on ya! Yes, our very own Dr. Vail Reese has discovered a heretofore unrecognized skin condition. This has not been described in the the dermatology textbooks, and for a very good reason. This disorder is not seen in the real world, only in the reel world. A combination of two other conditions, and following movie logic, it is therefore used to identify evil characters. We know the question on your lips: just which two skin disorders are combined to create this unique entity?-
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Second: albinism. The shock of white hair and pigmentally challenged skin of Vincent Price in "The Fall of the House of Usher" is another in a long line of pale purveyors of punishment.
Over the years, movie makers have paraphrased the motto of Reese's peanut butter cups: Two great tastes that taste great together. Repeat after us, class: Albinopecia!
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Characters with albinopecia show both hair loss and colorless skin. It may seem odd, but this is one of the earliest skinematic examples, dating back to the silent film age. To the right, view actor Max Schreck, in the 1921 Dracula ripoff "Nosferatu." The pale scalp was not scary enough, so they cleverly added serious hangnails to the mix.
Another silent movie from 1923 is "The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse." It features this friendly fellow, the Pale Rider, with albinopecia and wrinkles. In the days without sound, it seems piling on skin conditions helped add suspense.
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In 1997, "Dark City" was released. Look familiar?
This sci-fi psychological thriller features an entire race of creatures with albinopecia. They are always shrouded in darkness. Certainly cheaper than investing in sunscreen.
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Another example: The mean-spirited "Pinhead" character from the "HellRaiser" horror movie series. Here we have the additive effect of albinopecia plus acupuncture. You would be angry, too, if you had to write all that down on a medical form.
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"Star Wars" is director George Lucas' perfect amalgam of cinematic influences: science fiction, swashbuckling, and war movies all rolled in to one great advertisement for action figures. The series also throws in its own bald, pale villain: the evil emperor, also known as Darth Sidious. Too much ultraviolet radiation has left this Sith Lord with a lot of wrinkles. I guess you can't use the Force to fix everything.
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The film "Powder" tries to break the mold by creating a sympathetic teen character. Like some people with severe skin conditions, he is ostracized by his peers. Though he not evil, the story is otherwise not particularly realistic. He shoots electricity from his fingers and telekinetically transports objects. We all know people with albinopecia can't do those things! Hollywood can be so silly...
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We close this discussion on a lighthearted note. Here is albinopecia used for laughs: the character of Death from "Bill and Ted's Bogus Journey." In this influential work, Death's attempts to kill our Southern Californian heroes are foiled. He is also unable to derail the film career of talent-deficient Keanu Reeves. But we will not dwell on tragedy. It occurs to us that the main reason for the recurring use of albinopecia is that a pale, hairless head resembles a skull. Many of the above characters are merely death personified.
- Which may be why, though the incidence of wicked characters with albinism may be waning, albinopecia may never die...
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- Break out your pens and papers, folks, skinema is going academic on ya! Yes, our very own Dr. Vail Reese has discovered a heretofore unrecognized skin condition. This has not been described in the the dermatology textbooks, and for a very good reason. This disorder is not seen in the real world, only in the reel world. A combination of two other conditions, and following movie logic, it is therefore used to identify evil characters. We know the question on your lips: just which two skin disorders are combined to create this unique entity?
-
Over the years, movie makers have paraphrased the motto of Reese's peanut butter cups: Two great tastes that taste great together. Repeat after us, class: Albinopecia!-
Second: albinism. The shock of white hair and pigmentally challenged skin of Vincent Price in "The Fall of the House of Usher" is another in a long line of pale purveyors of punishment.
-
-
-
Characters with albinopecia show both hair loss and colorless skin. It may seem odd, but this is one of the earliest skinematic examples, dating back to the silent film age. To the right, view actor Max Schreck, in the 1921 Dracula ripoff "Nosferatu." The pale scalp was not scary enough, so they cleverly added serious hangnails to the mix.
Another silent movie from 1923 is "The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse." It features this friendly fellow, the Pale Rider, with albinopecia and wrinkles. In the days without sound, it seems piling on skin conditions helped add suspense. -
-
-
In 1997, "Dark City" was released. Look familiar?This sci-fi psychological thriller features an entire race of creatures with albinopecia. They are always shrouded in darkness. Certainly cheaper than investing in sunscreen. -
-
Another example: The mean-spirited "Pinhead" character from the "HellRaiser" horror movie series. Here we have the additive effect of albinopecia plus acupuncture. You would be angry, too, if you had to write all that down on a medical form.
-
"Star Wars" is director George Lucas' perfect amalgam of cinematic influences: science fiction, swashbuckling, and war movies all rolled in to one great advertisement for action figures. The series also throws in its own bald, pale villain: the evil emperor, also known as Darth Sidious. Too much ultraviolet radiation has left this Sith Lord with a lot of wrinkles. I guess you can't use the Force to fix everything. -
-
The film "Powder" tries to break the mold by creating a sympathetic teen character. Like some people with severe skin conditions, he is ostracized by his peers. Though he not evil, the story is otherwise not particularly realistic. He shoots electricity from his fingers and telekinetically transports objects. We all know people with albinopecia can't do those things! Hollywood can be so silly...
-
-
We close this discussion on a lighthearted note. Here is albinopecia used for laughs: the character of Death from "Bill and Ted's Bogus Journey." In this influential work, Death's attempts to kill our Southern Californian heroes are foiled. He is also unable to derail the film career of talent-deficient Keanu Reeves. But we will not dwell on tragedy. It occurs to us that the main reason for the recurring use of albinopecia is that a pale, hairless head resembles a skull. Many of the above characters are merely death personified.
- Which may be why, though the incidence of wicked characters with albinism may be waning, albinopecia may never die...
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